I think we can say it with certainty now. Look at all the blogs. Browse around Pinterest. Check out the showrooms and exhibitions. Ask in your local paint store. They will all say it in unison.

Grey is the new white. At least when it comes to walls.

Even in Scandinavia where we are notorious for painting every wall some shade of white, according to Swedish paint manufacturer Alcro there are now almost as many Sweidsh walls being painted grey as white. Who would have thought I would live to hear that?!

If you have painted a wall before in your home you know that it's easy to say "Let's paint it grey" but then when you come to the paint store you realize that there are about a gazillion different greys to choose from. And if you managed to pick one of them and get it up on your wall it all of a sudden looks more brown than grey. Or green. Or almost pink? Or blue-ish. Been there, done that. Grey is actually a very difficult color to get right!

You know what makes me really happy? When companies try to do something great for their customers. When they don't just try to sell their products but they try to solve a problem or make something better. And that's what Alcro has done. They realized that a lot of people are going to stand there in the paint store trying to figure out how to pick the right grey for their home. So they created a color map that shows us cold, neutral and warm greys and teach us what works well with what light and other colors. Yay!

For the quick lesson on what grey to choose for what, here's a quick recap:

Cold Greys

Goes well with warm light in rooms facing south. Matches with blue, green, purple and other cold white and grey tones and materials like stone, marble in cold hues, chrome, silver and dark leathers.

Neutral Greys

Goes well with warm light in rooms facing south. Works well as a neutral background to lift and accentuate other saturated colors. Matches colorful interiors, cold and warm hues, plants, steel, silver and chrome.

Warm Greys

Works well with cold and warm light in rooms facing north. Goes with yellow, red, pink, brown and beige tones and materials like copper, gold, brass, marble in warm hues, light woods and natural leather.

I think I have to run to the paint store right now..I have at least two or three walls I want to paint in some shade of grey. My bedroom needs a dark warm grey and my family room I think is going to get a combination of dark and light warm greys. The kitchen I want to paint also in a warm grey but I need to figure out what tile I am going to use for my backsplashes first. I love painting..it's such a quick and easy way to change up the feeling in a room. Honestly, the hardest part is deciding on the color and I think I just got the inspiration I needed to make that happen.

What about you? Do you have any grey walls yet or will I see you at the paint store? :-) I'd love to hear about your plans!